Regional Superintendent Donkin Distributes 63rd sales tax check for Franklin County Schools

Press Release from the office Regional Office Of Education #21 Superintendent, Matt Donkin

Dependability is a trait all of us would welcome in Illinois government. In 2008, educational leaders in Williamson County who were fac ing growing needs in their school fac ilities noticed a new law that would allow voters to approve a sales tax dedicated to meeting those needs. Seeing this opportunity for a dependable revenue stream, they went to work educating the public and invited the new Regional Superintendent of Schools, Matt Donkin, to join them and demonstrate how the flow of money would be a transparent and dependable process that could be trusted. After voters in Williamson County approved their measure and others could see the success of the effort, voters in Franklin County approved a similar resolution in 20 II . Students, the construction workers, and the local businesses that serve those groups have benefited from the sales tax as our students have been able to see changes in fac ilities to keep up with wealthier areas in other parts of the state.

As Donkin leaves Regional Office of Education #21, he has received and is distributing the I 05’h payment for the Williamson County school fac ility sales tax and its 63,d payment for Franklin County. The office received the June payment from the state on Monday, June 12, 201 7, of$592,993.34 for Williamson County and $200,169,89 for Franklin County. It will distribute those funds to the school districts with territory in those counties today, Monday, June 26, 201 7

In total, since July 2008, schools with territory in Williamson County have received a total of $57,616,455.26. Since April 201 2, schools with Franklin County territory have received a total of $12,226,043.77. School districts may use these funds on building construction and maintenance items and not on teacher salaries or operating funds.

As state law directs ROEs to distribute these funds and allows them to hold the funds in their accounts for up to 30 days and collect interest, the ROE has accumulated approximately $24,838.88 in interest from the Williamson County Sales Tax distribution since July 2009 and approximately $3,094.50 since April 201 2 from the Franklin County Sales Tax distribution for a total of $27,933.38. Most local school districts have agreements in place with the ROE so it may keep interest earned and utilize the funds to provide services to the school districts. The ROE has spent $25,466.81 from that amount to building inspections and other health and life safety services to the school districts in the ROE.”

“As I authorize the last distribution payment of my tenure, I am proud that we have been seen as dependable in a state that needs more of that and hope that the public respected the transparency that we promised and showed with their money,” said Donkin. “A lot have benefited, but our students benefited the most and we are grateful for all that help to give them the chance to compete with others and succeed during their lives'”

Questions regarding the distribution of the sales tax and the process can be answered by the Regional Superintendent. For more information on each school district’s plans, you should contact the local superintendent.

June 2017 Received for June 26, 2017

Distribution from the  School Facility Sales Tax with Fall 2016 Enrollment Numbers